But, long before 1970, American farmers were employing green initiatives. And those initiatives persist to this day. In fact, I would happily argue that farmers were the original environmentalists — and I’m certainly not alone in my thinking. Take a look:

Images like these popped up all over the internet yesterday, reminding anyone who would listen that farmers work, day-in and day-out, to protect the land. Not because it’s the in thing to do right now, but because they rely on that land to provide for their families and yours.

What’s more, farmers regularly participate in conservation programs available through the USDA Farm Service Agency, have employed no-till practices in order to reduce topsoil erosion, decreased water use by increasing efficiencies, improved air and water quality by effectively managing nutrients put on their fields and decreased the application of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides through the use the use of genetically-modified crops.

Why do they do it now? Why have they always done it? I think the image above, from www.RealRanchers.com, says it best:

This is our office and our home. This land is where we sweat, cry and rejoice. We are here to protect this land on Earth Day and every day.